Studying Life - Living Organisms Have A Common Origin & Share Similarities

Question 1

Biology

Answer 1

the scientific study of living organisms and fossils

Question 2

What common features do all life forms share?

Answer 2

• common set of chemical compounds
• made up of cells
• use molecules from environment to synthesize new molecules
• take energy from environment to do work
• regulate internal environments
• contain genetic information that allows them to develop, function, & reproduce
• use a universal genetic code to build proteins
• exist in populations that evolve over time

Question 3

What elements were essential for life to evolve?

Answer 3

nucleic acids, protein synthesis, & membrane-enclosed molecules

Question 4

Nucleic acids

Answer 4

molecules that reproduce themselves & serve as templates for protein synthesis

Question 5

Prokaryotes

Answer 5

unicellular organisms without membrane-bound organelles & a true nucleus

Question 6

Two examples of prokaryotes

Answer 6

archaea & bacteria

Question 7

Eukarya/eukaryotes

Answer 7

organisms with membrane-enclosed organelles & a nucleus

Question 8

What does a nucleus contain?

Answer 8

the genetic information

Question 9

Photosynthesis

Answer 9

sunlight energy to chemical energy

Question 10

Cyanobacteria

Answer 10

organisms that use light energy to produce chemical energy

Question 11

What element wasn’t present in the atmosphere before photosynthesis evolved?

Answer 11

oxygen

Question 12

Cell specialization

Answer 12

in eukaryotes, cells stuck together & specialized in different functions. they became larger & more efficient at obtaining resources & adapting to specific environments.

Question 13

What do organisms need and why?

Answer 13

• nutrients (metabolize them) from their environment in order to gain energy which can also be stored as fat
• regulation of internal environment

Question 14

Homeostasis

Answer 14

maintenance of internal environment